Discomfort linked to social or family mandates can penetrate deeply into our thoughts and cause serious inconveniences in the development of daily life. Let’s think about the following scenario: we are walking down the street and we stop to look carefully at an advertising poster that shows the image of a happy woman drinking an energy drink. At that moment, for no apparent reason, all kinds of strange sensations awaken in our respiratory system that make us worry about the possibility of not being able to continue living freely. Although this is a fictitious case, the truth is that these types of situations are common in many people with anxiety.
In this Psychology-Online article we explain what shortness of breath due to anxiety is like and how to treat it.
What is shortness of breath due to anxiety?
First of all, it is important to detect the main cause that determines shortness of breath. Given this, it is important to keep in mind that there may be organic factors that make it impossible to breathe normally, such as respiratory diseases caused by viruses and bacteria, for example.
In other cases, shortness of breath may be linked to high levels of anxiety due to everyday life situations that produce excessive worries, related to both the present and the future of a person. This problem is perceived through the feeling that air is not entering properly through the airways to go to the lungs.
Symptoms of shortness of breath due to anxiety
How do you know if shortness of breath is due to anxiety? In order to detect the origin of shortness of breath due to anxiety and establish an appropriate diagnosis, it is essential to know the manifestations that can appear on the physical level, as well as in the emotions and behaviors of each person.
Below, we show you the main symptoms of shortness of breath due to anxiety:
- Chest tightness.
- Feeling of suffocation.
- Catastrophic thoughts referring to death.
- .
- Nausea, vomiting and, in some cases, dizziness.
- Distress.
- Shortness of breath.
- Muscle tension.
- Excessive sweating.
If these symptoms persist for a long time and make it impossible to properly carry out daily life, it is advisable to go to a mental health professional so that the person can be evaluated and diagnosed.
How long does shortness of breath due to anxiety last?
Although there is no single parameter to know how long shortness of breath due to anxiety can last, generally these symptoms can last from a few minutes or hours to months. In this sense, it is necessary to understand that this criterion will be determined by severity level and the consequences visible in the person who suffers from this problem.
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Treatment of shortness of breath due to anxiety
How to eliminate the feeling of shortness of breath due to anxiety? Despite the difficulties that this clinical condition entails, there are currently approaches available that can contribute to the remission of the symptoms of anxiety. In the following items, we will talk about treatments for shortness of breath due to anxiety:
Psychological therapy
One of the most effective options to treat anxiety is psychological therapy. In general terms, the objective of psychotherapy is to investigate the causes that have caused the symptoms and offer tools that allow you to cope with complex situations in a more enjoyable way. Among short-term therapies, it is possible to highlight , which works on the emotions, thoughts and behaviors related to the patient’s problems.
On the other hand, longer-term therapies attempt to locate the origin of the symptoms so that the person can adopt other alternatives when resolving a conflictive situation. The best known and most effective long-term therapy is psychoanalysis.
Psychiatric medication
In cases of considerable severity in which shortness of breath due to anxiety is evident, another solution lies in the use of . These medications can reduce the symptoms of anxiety through the modification of the neuronal connections that are carried out in the central nervous system.
However, it should be noted that the provision of psychiatric medications should always be carried out under the supervision of a mental health professional.
Natural medicine
Finally, among the treatments for shortness of breath due to anxiety, it is also possible to include some natural methods that can offer momentary relief. Among the best known are digestive teas, visualization of positive situations or writing down thoughts and emotions of the present, among others.
However, if after a while of putting these remedies into practice the symptoms do not subside, it will be necessary to consider a medical consultation to rule out organic pathologies.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Navas Orozco, W., Vargas Baldares, MJ (2012). Anxiety disorders: targeted review for primary care. Medical Journal of Costa Rica and Central America LXIX, 604 (11), 497-507.